The initial prognosis was that Sturridge, who has scored 11 goals this season for Liverpool, could be out for between eight and 12 weeks but, as injury problems mount in other areas, Rodgers has been given a timely boost because Sturridge could return to face Stoke on 12 January.

The Liverpool manager, who also launched a defence of Luis Suárez in relation to José Mourinho's accusations of diving, also hinted that the captain, Steven Gerrard, could return against Hull City on Wednesday.

Gerrard has not featured since early December, when he pulled up with a hamstring problem in the win over West Ham at Anfield. He was expected to be out for up to six weeks but Rodgers said on Monday: "Steven has rejoined training, so we'll see how he is for Hull."

"We will assess that in the next 24 hours. By the Stoke game we'll have a number of the others who will not be too far away.

"Daniel is ahead of schedule. He might not be too far over the next few weeks. He was out running the other day doing straight-line running and he is now doing more multi-directional running and then training next week and he will have a good week of training.

"Over the next couple of weeks we will get those players back and it will look a lot brighter for us."

Joe Allen is set to miss the visit of Hull because of a groin strain, so Gerrard's possible return would be timely, while Liverpool are awaiting news on the defender Mamadou Sakho, who has a hamstring problem. Jordan Henderson picked up a knock against Chelsea but is expected to be fine to start on Wednesday at Anfield.

Rodgers will be hoping to recover against Hull after defeats by Manchester City and Chelsea have left Liverpool fifth in the table, having been top on Christmas Day.

Both defeats were littered with controversial refereeing decisions that Rodgers has publicly criticised. And he has also had to defend Suárez over diving accusations from the Chelsea manager, who claimed the Reds forward pulled off an "acrobatic swimming pool jump".

Rodgers dismissed the suggestions from Mourinho, whom he worked with as youth coach at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2007, and believes Suárez is an "easy target" because of the reputation that precedes him.

Suárez went down after being caught by the Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o in the home team's penalty area during Liverpool's 2-1 away defeat on Sunday.

The Liverpool manager said: "Luis is an easy target, isn't he? I think we had a spell over the last year or so where everyone was jumping on Luis' back, saying he was diving.

"I don't think it was that [an acrobatic dive] at all. I think it was a valid claim for a penalty against a player who wasn't even making an effort for the football.

"I certainly wouldn't think it was an acrobatic dive. For Luis, for lots of people in the country, he has been an easy target. Football is about opinions – managers, supporters and media, they will always have an opinion.

"I will always give an honest appraisal of what I see and I will always defend my players when they need defending."